Washington not shaking up Rangers' lineup

ANAHEIM -- The Rangers struggled at the plate in June. July hasn't been any better. In fact, the Rangers have regressed.

It has only been 13 games, but the Rangers went into Saturday's game hitting .234 with a .327 slugging percentage for the month. They have also scored just 34 runs in 13 games.

The lineup remains pretty much the same. Manager Ron Washington said before Saturday's game that he doesn't plan on any drastic changes to his lineup.

"Everybody wants to shake up the lineup, but my experience is that when I woke up in the morning and I was in a certain spot in the lineup, it helped me a lot," Washington said. "I knew what my job was. With this lineup, there's really nothing I can do with it. They are all in the best places I can put them.

"Moving a guy not doing the job is not going to make him better. They are going to throw him the same way they were when he was somewhere else."

Second baseman Ian Kinsler has two hits in his last 21 at-bats, Josh Hamilton has five hits in his last 35 at-bats, Nelson Cruz is 3-for-16 with seven strikeouts in his last five games, Mike Napoli had three hits on Friday but was 2-for-22 prior to that, and David Murphy has two hits in his last 16 at-bats. Michael Young had been hot but had a six-game hitting streak end on Friday.

"Those are the guys who are going to take us there," Washington said. "If they don't take us there, we're not going to get there. Here it is. I'm willing to accept that. These are my guys."

Rangers rest Lewis, expect him to start Tuesday

ANAHEIM -- The Rangers are tentatively expecting Colby Lewis to pitch on Tuesday against the Red Sox even though he has not thrown in the bullpen since his last start on Wednesday against the Athletics. He had some tightness in his right forearm after that start, but the Rangers are listing him as their starter on Tuesday.

Lewis was considering a bullpen session on Saturday, but the Rangers decided to give him an extra day. He will be re-evaluated on Sunday. If needed, the Rangers could push him back and start Scott Feldman on Tuesday.

Lewis was on the disabled list from June 24-July 18 with tightness in the forearm. He came off the disabled list and allowed one run in five innings against the Athletics.

Anaheim has been a busy place for right-handed reliever Mark Lowe, who has been on the disabled list with a strained intercostal muscle in his right rib cage. He has been playing catch and long toss and is planning to throw off a mound on Sunday. That would be the next big step toward a rehab assignment in the Minors.

Koji Uehara, on the other hand, has had a quiet weekend in Anaheim. He is still experiencing stiffness in the lat muscle in his right rib cage and is not doing any throwing at all.

"It hasn't changed much," Uehara said. "I'll probably start throwing next week as long as there is no tenderness. Then we will push it to the level where I can pitch in a game."

Coolbaugh foundation announces safety program

ANAHEIM -- Sunday marks the fifth anniversary of the death of Rangers batting coach Scott Coolbaugh's brother, Mike, and his foundation is embarking on another project to help improve safety on the baseball field.

Scott and Susan Coolbaugh's "Diamond Dreams" foundation has announced its new "Make It Home Safe" program, which aims to assist youth baseball players and organizations in need of new or improved safety equipment or facilities.

Beginning the weekend of July 20-July 22, 2012, Mike Coolbaugh Diamond Dreams began accepting nominations for its first project awards under the new "Make It Home Safe" program at its website, www.diamonddreams.org. Anyone who knows of a Texas baseball team, program or organization that has a need for improved safety equipment or facilities is encouraged to visit the Diamond Dreams website and submit an online nomination form.

In the past five years there has been a concentrated effort to improve safety in organized baseball. Among the most prominent examples of this focus on safety is that base coaches from the college level through the Minor Leagues and all the way to the Majors are required to wear helmets on the field. Additionally, colleges and high schools have implemented new BBCOR bat safety standards to reduce the injury risk.

Mike Coolbaugh died as the result of injuries from getting hit by a foul-ball line drive while coaching first base for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers on July 22, 2007.

"When this time comes around, it's always a tough time for the family," Coolbaugh said. "[Friday] is my mom's birthday. The whole next few days we struggle to get through."

Perez planning on quick return to Rangers

ROUND ROCK, Texas -- Before he was called up for his first stint as a big league pitcher, Martin Perez was 2-0 with a 1.18 ERA in his last two starts with Triple-A Round Rock. He's looking to pick up where he left off now that he's back with the Express.

"Two months ago, my mind was a little crazy. I was a little bit frustrated," said Perez, who was sent down on Wednesday when Colby Lewis was activated off the disabled list. "I don't want to stay here for long. We have about 30 games left. I want to get back there as fast as I can."

After going 1-1 with a 5.54 ERA in four appearances with the Rangers, including two starts, Perez pitched in his first game for Round Rock since being called up June 26. He gave up one run on three hits in two innings out of the bullpen in Friday's loss to Omaha. When he resumes his role as a starter, he'll join a rotation that includes Justin Grimm, who also made his Major League debut this year, after spending most of the season with Double-A Frisco.

"When Grimm got called up, everybody asked me, 'Are you mad because Grimm got called up?' I said, 'No, he's my friend,'" Perez said. "Next year, we're going to have a better shot than this year. Grimm's a good guy, and he throws really good. I talk to him every day and say, 'Hey, you're throwing good. Keep doing what you're doing.'"

After allowing four runs over two-third innings in his big league debut, Perez won his first Major League start by holding the A's to two runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings during a 7-2 victory June 30. He lost his next start to the Twins and tossed a scoreless inning of relief against the Mariners on July 14 before being optioned to Round Rock Wednesday.

"I learned a lot," Perez said. "[Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux] said pitching outside is your money, outside and down. That's what I do every time on the first pitch, outside and down. When I have runners on base with one out, I throw my sinker down and outside. That's what I learned."

Worth noting

 First baseman Mitch Moreland has been scheduled to begin a medical rehabilitation assignment for Triple-A Round Rock on Monday and Tuesday. His wife, Susannah, is scheduled to give birth on Wednesday. He will resume his rehab assignment after that.

 Catcher Yorvit Torrealba was activated before Saturday's game after missing four days to be with his wife, Millie, who gave birth to a daughter, Ashley Valentina. Torrealba started at catcher on Saturday.

 Mike Olt hit his 25th home run for Double-A Frisco on Friday. That's the second most home runs by a Minor Leaguer at any level this season. Joey Gallo, the 39th overall pick in the June First-Year Player Draft, has 11 home runs in 24 games for the Arizona Rookie League Rangers.